# Git Commands Quick Reference Card

## Essential Daily Commands

### Starting Your Work Session
```bash
git status                    # Check current repository state
git pull origin main         # Get latest changes from remote
git checkout -b feature/name  # Create and switch to new branch
```

### During Development
```bash
git status                    # Check what files have changed
git diff                      # See what changes you've made
git add filename             # Stage specific file
git add .                    # Stage all changes
git commit -m "message"      # Save changes with description
git push origin branch-name  # Backup your work to remote
```

### Completing a Feature
```bash
git checkout main            # Switch back to main branch
git pull origin main        # Get latest changes
git merge feature/name       # Merge your feature
git push origin main         # Push completed feature
git branch -d feature/name   # Delete local feature branch
```

### Emergency Commands
```bash
git stash                    # Temporarily save uncommitted work
git stash pop               # Restore stashed work
git reset --soft HEAD~1     # Undo last commit, keep changes
git checkout -- filename    # Discard changes to specific file
```

### Information Commands
```bash
git log --oneline           # View commit history
git branch -a               # See all branches
git remote -v               # See remote repositories
git diff HEAD~1             # Compare with previous commit
```

## Commit Message Best Practices

### Good Examples:
- `Add user authentication system`
- `Fix login validation bug`
- `Update README with installation steps`
- `Refactor database connection logic`

### Bad Examples:
- `fixed stuff`
- `updates`
- `asdf`
- `commit`

### Conventional Commit Format:
- `feat: add user registration`
- `fix: resolve login timeout issue`
- `docs: update API documentation`
- `style: format code with prettier`

## File Naming Conventions

### Repository Names:
- Use lowercase letters
- Use hyphens instead of spaces
- Be descriptive but concise
- Examples: `user-management-system`, `blog-website`, `data-analysis-tools`

### Branch Names:
- `feature/add-user-auth`
- `bugfix/fix-login-error` 
- `docs/update-readme`
- `hotfix/critical-security-patch`

### File Names:
- Use meaningful names
- Follow language conventions
- Examples: `user_controller.py`, `LoginForm.js`, `database-schema.sql`

## Common Git Patterns

### Feature Development Workflow:
```
main branch
    ↓
feature branch (work here)
    ↓
merge back to main
    ↓
delete feature branch
```

### Daily Routine:
```
Morning:  git pull origin main
Work:     edit → add → commit → push (repeat)
Evening:  merge completed features to main
```

### Project Structure:
```
my-project/
├── README.md
├── .gitignore
├── LICENSE
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── src/
│   ├── main.py
│   └── utils.py
├── docs/
│   └── setup.md
└── tests/
    └── test_main.py
```